Leaf moisture retention index (LMRI): an easily measurable physiological characteristic for drought tolerance in chickpea
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.53550/jfl.v19i1.2286Keywords:
Chickpea, Cicer arietinum, Drought tolerance, Leaf moisture retention index, Membrane injury, Relative water contentAbstract
Studies were conducted to identify physiological traits related to drought tolerance in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.). Eleven genotypes were grown in the field under moisture stress conditions, particularly at the pod formation stage by withholding irrigation. The genotypes like RSG 143-1 retaining higher relative water content (64%) and lower membrane injury (35.5%) under stress also showed higher leaf moisture retention index (0.85) and lower drought susceptibility index (0.95%). However, grain yield did not correlate with these traits. The LMRI is an easily measurable physiological trait reflecting leaf turgor maintenance under stress and, hence, may be related to drought tolerance of the genotype.
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